Nemo
31-08-2008, 10:18 AM
I recently posted asking for advice on crown options, but now want to ask if anyone (Toothsmith etc.?) have any thoughts on further diagnosis or the cost question I'll ask at the end.
About a year ago I went to have a large filling redone on my lower right 6 (I think that's what it's called). It hadn't been causing any problems, but she obviously saw something that needed treatment. I can remember her putting various potions in the prepared cavity, and seem to recall her saying about using something other than amalgam, though not 100% about this.
The tooth never seemed to settle down, no pain but I was just aware of the tooth if this makes any sense. I thought I could feel small crack down the middle on the inside of the tooth, but didn't know if I was only feeling something that was already there due to a scale and polish.
A couple of months ago though I started getting discomfort/mild pain when biting hard food. I explained all the symptoms to the dentist, and answered her question regarding sensitivity to hot and cold by saying this wasn't a problem. She checked the bite with the bit of paper thing, and smoothed a raised bit of tooth off. She took x-rays of the tooth saying it could be an abscess and that I might need a root canal depending on what showed up.
When I went back she said that the x-rays were absolutlely fine, and that it could all be caused by the crack so she'd do a crown, which is where my last thread left off.
Anywho, I went to have the crown prep done a couple of days ago. She said "We're doing a crown to cure the problem you're having with hot and cold". I told her that it was biting problems I was actually having. She said "We might have to reassess in that case". I had made it totally clear of my symptoms. She carefully rechecked the x-rays which again didn't show anything. She decided to do a crown prep with a temporary crown, then I have to phone up 4 days later to let her know if the problem seems to have gone so she can get the crown produced.
I can already tell it's no better, in fact if anything feels a little worse. By way of symptoms, the discomfort is when pressure is applied to the top of the tooth towards the back. There's no discomfort if I grip the tooth by the sides and press down, and there's no discomfort when there's no pressure applied at all, only when eating (or poking!).
Any thoughts on the diagnosis?
Secondly, I'd previously decided to have a private gold crown done at £380. If it's decided that I need a root canal, or some other work, can I at this stage ask to revert to NHS treatment and have whatever's needed, including an NHS crown for the maximum NHS cost (£198?) ? I can envisage this climbing up towards £1000 otherwise. Oh, and would it cause difficulties doing a root canal on a crown-prep'd tooth?
Sorry this was a longer post than envisaged. Well done if you got this far.
Thanks in advance.
About a year ago I went to have a large filling redone on my lower right 6 (I think that's what it's called). It hadn't been causing any problems, but she obviously saw something that needed treatment. I can remember her putting various potions in the prepared cavity, and seem to recall her saying about using something other than amalgam, though not 100% about this.
The tooth never seemed to settle down, no pain but I was just aware of the tooth if this makes any sense. I thought I could feel small crack down the middle on the inside of the tooth, but didn't know if I was only feeling something that was already there due to a scale and polish.
A couple of months ago though I started getting discomfort/mild pain when biting hard food. I explained all the symptoms to the dentist, and answered her question regarding sensitivity to hot and cold by saying this wasn't a problem. She checked the bite with the bit of paper thing, and smoothed a raised bit of tooth off. She took x-rays of the tooth saying it could be an abscess and that I might need a root canal depending on what showed up.
When I went back she said that the x-rays were absolutlely fine, and that it could all be caused by the crack so she'd do a crown, which is where my last thread left off.
Anywho, I went to have the crown prep done a couple of days ago. She said "We're doing a crown to cure the problem you're having with hot and cold". I told her that it was biting problems I was actually having. She said "We might have to reassess in that case". I had made it totally clear of my symptoms. She carefully rechecked the x-rays which again didn't show anything. She decided to do a crown prep with a temporary crown, then I have to phone up 4 days later to let her know if the problem seems to have gone so she can get the crown produced.
I can already tell it's no better, in fact if anything feels a little worse. By way of symptoms, the discomfort is when pressure is applied to the top of the tooth towards the back. There's no discomfort if I grip the tooth by the sides and press down, and there's no discomfort when there's no pressure applied at all, only when eating (or poking!).
Any thoughts on the diagnosis?
Secondly, I'd previously decided to have a private gold crown done at £380. If it's decided that I need a root canal, or some other work, can I at this stage ask to revert to NHS treatment and have whatever's needed, including an NHS crown for the maximum NHS cost (£198?) ? I can envisage this climbing up towards £1000 otherwise. Oh, and would it cause difficulties doing a root canal on a crown-prep'd tooth?
Sorry this was a longer post than envisaged. Well done if you got this far.
Thanks in advance.